*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original Japanese Version ©N. Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works Inc. * Sony Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
New Paths, Old Roads and Unlikely Allies Fanfic By: Chiruken Chapter 7~Winter~
I head to the kitchen to begin preparations for lunch. I hum happily under my breath as I se the dashi to simmer and deftly chop the vegetables. It feels good to be home again, that it does. I'm relieved Kaoru and I were able to resolve our disagreement and I am able to continue calling her doujou home. I search through the cupboards until I find all the ingredients for ohagi, Kaoru's favorite confection…next to the western chokoreeto. I wish I had some of the sweet candy for her. I push the thought aside as impractical under the circumstances.
Hmm…this could be a problem. I eye the four fish I brought earlier with a grimace. Five people and only four fish…someone gets left out unless I employ some imaginative culinary skills. I quickly clean the fish and rub salt into the flesh before setting them over the fire to grill.
When all is ready I carefully place everything on a tray to carry to the other room. Have I forgotten anything? I snap my fingers with a grin. Right…the ginger juice. I gleefully dip one bowl, cup, and hashi into the juice I carefully extracted, and let it sit while I rub white pepper into one napkin before refolding it and placing it on top of the others gingerly. I remove the dishes from the juice and wave them in the air rapidly to dry them without disturbing the…um…flavor…before setting them on top of each respective pile. I hope Matsumoto likes things spicy. I chuckle with malicious delight at the thought.
With silent steps I enter the next room taking great care not to let any of the dishes clink together with my movement. Yet again my arrival goes unnoticed by all except Sanosuke who's sitting across from Matsumoto with a smirk firmly in place. Stealthily I creep up behind my 'target' and clear my throat. His reaction is exactly what I expected. However, I didn't think a man could emit such a high-pitched squeal, though.
I smile my sweetest, most innocent rurouni smile. "Good afternoon, Matsumoto. Did you miss me?" I watch with amusement as the blood rushes back into his face. He glowers at me with a rather nasty snarl. "Apparently not."
"What are you doing here?" I peek at Kaoru to judge her reaction to her guest's discourtesy. She's frowning…things are definitely looking up.
I smile cheerfully and place the dishes in front of everyone in a meticulous and orderly fashion. "I live here, that I do." I answer mildly.
I sit beside Sanosuke and watch as everyone fills his or her bowls before doing so as well. Kaoru is glancing at Matsumoto's bowl curiously and sniffing thoughtfully. "That's an interesting aroma, Kenshin. What is it?"
"It's ginger, that it is." I reply readily enough. "Is it to your liking, Kaoru-dono?"
"I always enjoy the meals you prepare. They're always delicious."
I smile in pleasure at the compliment. "Thank you, Kaoru-dono." I watch Matsumoto closely while eating. Any second now the ginger juice should take effect. I smile with satisfaction as he chokes and spits his rice back into the bowl. His face is turning an interesting shade of red while his eyes begin to water profusely. Kaoru helpfully hands him his napkin. I lean forward a little and pause with my hashi partway to my mouth as he wipes his eyes with the peppered napkin. I actually wince in sympathy at his strangled exclamations uttered between sneezes.
"Matsumono-san…are you all right?" Kaoru looks at me suspiciously. "What did you do, Kenshin?"
I smile innocently and set my bowl down…as a precaution in the event that she has her bokken with her…there's no need for Kaoru's pottery to suffer as well. "Perhaps ginger juice and white pepper aren't to his liking, Kaoru-dono."
She's inspecting the peppered napkin. 'Not many would when it's on the napkin they used to wipe their eyes." She shrugs in dismissal as she tosses the napkin aside. "Oh well." I blink in surprise as she turns to Matsumoto and smiles sympathetically. "Rinse your eyes with cold water, Matsumoto-san. That should relieve the burning."
"It is a mild day, that it is. I think I'll wash the laundry if you won't be needing anything else done, Kaoru-dono." She smiles and shakes her head.
After cleaning up after our lunch I quickly gather the laundry and carry it outside to the washtub. I return to the kitchen for the soap and a few other…ingredients…that I'll need. I wash Kaoru and Yahiko's things first and hang them to dry. I look around the yard quickly ensuring there are no witnesses to see my next actions. A handful of kuzu starch should do it. I add three for good measure, then drop Matsumoto's clothes into the water…including his fundoshi and tabi. I snicker with spiteful mirth at the possible out come to this particular prank. Before I'm through Matsumoto will be begging to do his own chores.
When I'm through washing the laundry I carefully dispose of all evidence of my trickery and go in search of Kaoru. I find her in the practice hall with Yahiko and Matsumoto. "Kaoru-dono is there anything you need from the market?"
"Are you going out?" I nod with a smile. "Maybe some tofu for dinner then."
"I won't be long, that I will not." I give Matsumoto a meaningful look before departing, ignoring his venomous look in return. I don't think he's very happy with my reinstatement as a member of the household. I chuckle humorlessly. Too bad, you rat. Get used to it.
After a quick stop at the market for the tofu and on to my real reason for venturing out. Carefully balancing the tofu, I head for the clinic with a light step. Megumi isn't in, which is just as well. Genzai-sensei isn't as curious about my odd requests as she would be. I'm not prepared to answer any awkward questions right now. "Thank you, Genzai-sensei." I bow respectfully to the aging doctor.
"You're very welcome, Kenshin, but how is it that you're so knowledgeable about pharmaceuticals?"
I smile guilelessly and reply truthfully. "I was an apothecary for a time, that I was." He gives me a considering look as I depart. I tuck the jar containing the ingredients I obtained from the good doctor inside my kimono carefully. It wouldn't do to spill them on myself. I've no wish to suffer from the embarrassing discomfort that they would cause.
When I return to the doujou I head for the kitchen immediately and set the tofu to the side. I draw the jar out of my kimono and look around quickly. No one's insight so I swiftly set about combining the finely ground leaves of the Lacquer Tree with some of Kaoru's sweet smelling soap, taking extreme care to not let the mixture come into contact with my clothes and especially not my exposed skin. Ten minutes later, the finished product carefully stored in the jar and tucked inside my kimono again, I emerge from the kitchen, all traces of my labor carefully concealed.
I cross the yard to the drying laundry and grin smugly. Matsumoto's clothes are rapidly becoming stiff as a board. I better fold them while I still can. Good thing they're almost dry. Carrying my burden under my arm I head for my room…I mean, Matsumoto's room. I frown crossly for a moment before brightening. Oh well, the storehouse isn't so bad…infinitely better than a tree. I stifle a yawn, my previous sleepless night slowly catching up with me.
I slide the shouji open and step through. After setting the clean and well-starched clothes aside in a neat pile I swiftly unroll the futon. I glance around quickly before opening the jar and sprinkling the sheets liberally with the powder. When the jar is empty, I rub it into the bedding with a blanket, roll the futon, and place it in its customary spot by the wall. I stand and exit the room quickly, an anticipatory grin firmly in place. Let's see how he deals with a healthy dose of my own brand of itching powder.
I should begin preparations for dinner now. I think I'll let matters lie for the time being and not alter Matsumoto's dinner this time. After all, even a rat has to eat sometime. I hum under my breath as I arrange the rice balls in neat rows on a plate. I don't look up when Kaoru enters the kitchen. "Kenshin, when you're finished here, would you prepare the furo for Matsumoto-san?" I look up at her hesitant tone with a smile. "I'd do it myself, but…"
My smile dissolves into a disapproving scowl. "That wouldn't be right, Kaoru-dono, that it would not. Leave everything to me, all right?"
She nods with obvious relief. "Thank you. To tell you the truth, I've had more than enough of his complaints and demands. I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner. Can you forgive me for being so stubborn?"
I smile reassuringly, with just a hint of satisfaction. "It's all right, Kaoru-dono, that it is. I'm beginning to feel much better now. I'll feel even betting in the morning after that pompous windbag gets up after what will hopefully be a miserably long night."
Her eyes narrow suspiciously. "What do you plan on doing tonight?"
I widen my eyes innocently. "Me? I intend to sleep, that I do…" I lower my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "But if I were you, Kaoru-dono, I'd use ear plugs tonight, that I would." I smile brightly and hand her the plate of rice balls.
"That sounds foreboding. Maybe I'll sleep out I the storehouse tonight, too."
"Oro?!" I nearly drop the bowls I'm arranging on a serving tray. I look at her in consideration for a moment. Well…I did decide to change my outlook, but I think this may be a little drastic even for me. I clear my throat a little nervously. "Um…Kaoru-dono…as pleasant as the possibilities that suggestion implies, I think it's unadvisable, that I do."
Her eyes widen as her lips form a silent 'oh'. An embarrassed flush slowly creeps into her face an instant later. "Kenshin you jerk. That isn't what I meant." Despite the customary insult, there's no anger in her tone.
Maybe not, but the implications were there. I wisely keep my thoughts to myself. Lucky for me Kaoru is in a good mood. I don't think it would be in my best interests to say something to change that. I follow her to the other room with full intentions of behaving myself for the time being. I'll let Matsumoto eat his dinner in peace. The look he gives me is enough to make a more timid man's hair stand on end. I shrug ruefully. He'll have to do better than that to intimidate me. If I hadn't already decided to leave him alone for now, I'd show him how to really look terrifying. Instead I smile mockingly. "Good evening, Matsumoto. I trust you have regained your appetite." I set his bowl in front of him and sit across from Kaoru.
"Now, Kenshin, it isn't nice to tease like that." The laughter in her voice is unmistakable.
I shrug as I pick up my hashi and smile an unconvincing apology in his direction. "Did Yahiko leave for the Akabeko already?"
I wait patiently for Kaoru to swallow before answering. "Yes. He said to not expect him tonight. He'll be helping Megumi-san and Genzai-sensei tonight and tomorrow at the clinic."
I quickly duck my head to hide my predatory grin. With Yahiko away I don't have to worry about him being negatively influenced by my upcoming escapades. It's too bad I can't get rid of Kaoru, too. My grin fades, replaced by a frown. Maybe that's for the best after all. At least while she's here I can't forget myself and do something particularly nasty and permanent to the louse. "Will the boy be all right out alone like this so late at night?"
I can't quite hide my surprise. He actually sounds genuinely concerned for Yahiko's well being. I smile at him in a more friendly way. Maybe the sneak is human after all. "Yahiko is quite adept at protecting himself, that he is. He should be fine tonight."
"Hmph. Coming from you, that's anything but reassuring. What would someone like you care about one small boy's safety?"
I take it back. He's still an obnoxious slug, well deserving of anything I might dish out to him. "More than you could ever comprehend." I growl under my breath. Kaoru wisely remains silent throughout the exchange. I move to stand, gripping my sakabatou tight enough my knuckles turn white in an effort to keep myself from throttling Matsumoto. "I will prepare the furo." I don't wait for a reply from either of my companions before stalking to the shouji.
"I like my water hot." I go rigid at the imperious tone he uses, but bite back an answering retort.
I step through the shouji and close it with infinite care. Kaoru's disapproving voice reaches me through the barrier. "You really shouldn't antagonize him, Matsumoto-san." I step off the engawa and cross the yard to the bathhouse ready to drown the offensive worm.
"He likes it hot, does he? Let's see just how hot he likes it." I pile the firewood and light it, blowing on the flames urging them to life. I add more wood until I can't stuff another piece in. "Is it hot enough yet, Matsumoto-san?" I mutter it under my breath as I listen to his splashing as he rinses. I fan the fire to even greater heat with what I assume must be a rather evil smile. A few minutes later, as I'm walking away, his agonized howl reaches my ears. As I pass Kaoru I offer her a tight smile. "I wouldn't use the furo tonight, Kaoru-dono. It might be a little too hot."
**To Be Continued…**
***
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's Notes:
1.If you've read my fic "Pranks", you'll see a few similarities between this chapter and that fic. I didn't want Kenshin to go completely "Battousai", so I compromised and had a little fun while I was at it. **grins**
2.Due to Jason M.L.'s review of Chapter 4 of "Pranks", I decided to do a little research. I came up with an alternative to the North American Poison Ivy or Oak…the Lacquer Tree!
"The Japanese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron verniciflua), which grows to a height of 15-20 m, provides a thick, self-melanizing, viscous sap that is used for varnishing wood. Polymerized urushiol persists in the lacquer and can maintain its allergenicity for hundreds of years. Artisans can develop resistance to the allergenic urushiol by chewing raw lacquer.
Pathogenesis
Urushiol, the allergenic oleoresin of Toxicodendron plants, derives its name from the Japanese word kiurushi, the sap of the Japanese lacquer tree (T verniciflua). Urushiols from poison ivy and poison oak contain pentadecylcatechols, which are the primary sensitizers. Cathecols are soluble in rubber; consequently, rubber gloves are not protective against these allergens.
Particles suspended in smoke can carry urushiol. Nonleaf portions of the plant can induce dermatitis, even in the winter. Blister fluid does not contain urushiol; the vesicles and bullae of dermatitis due to poison ivy or other Anacardiaceae plants do not contain the allergens. Therefore, breaking these blisters does not cause the rash to spread." --information obtained from http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic904.htm
Thanks Jason for the great idea!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Response to Reviewers:
Sorry mina-san, but it's megaly late and I have an important interview in the morning.
I really appreciate all the reviews! Thanks bunchies!
